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Electric or Nah?

BY: TYLER JORDAN

Many people personally hate all the new electric cars and so they are more charming than most people think. Although I am against electric vehicles, I am going to show a little of both sides. First I am going to talk about the pros and cons of them. The biggest one is electric cars reduce emissions and they don’t pollute the air which is a good thing. Second, they don’t require as much maintenance as normal cars. And they are”fuel efficient” with being charged at 100% they range from 250 to 400 miles to “empty”.

Now some of the cons: First off, most electric cars batteries are horrendous and cause great hazards to the victim and first responders since they like to blow up. They are also so expensive, some ranging near 50 thousand dollars which I think is ridiculous. They say it cuts down on admission but that’s not completely true. You see what the battery has to have in it. A battery need nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathodes and lithium-iron-phosphate cathodes, which all this stuff is a natural resources and will run out eventually but also this products have to be dug out the ground and guess what does that heavy equipment which takes gas and burns of carbon monoxide. So although your car may be “ efficient emissions” just think what it takes to make your battery car. Also the prices on these electric cars are ridiculous. No battery car with a full surveillance system should be near 100 thousand dollars when the battery cost 50% of it. Another big con is autopilots now just think if your car can drive itself then what if somebody hacked your car and went on a rampage. Auto pilot is still very new and still very deadly with all the mishaps in it. I would never put my life in the hands of a computer system. This is just my side on this many people are back and forth on this but i’m telling you electric cars are going to be a big mistake.

Who Will Win the Heisman Race?

By: Henry Jones

I usually talk about the NFL regarding my favorite team, the Arizona Cardinals, but in this blog I will be answering the question of who I think is most favored to win the Heisman award this year in college football. For a long time, the Heisman award has been seen as a quarterback award, such as the MVP Award in the NFL. However, that narrative has a chance to change this year because of two generational players : Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter. Both are spectacular athletes and put up video game number statistics. To begin, Ashton Jeanty has been amazing his year. He is putting up unbelievable rushing amounts every game and is on pace for 2,912 rushing yards, shattering Barry Sanders’s college rushing record of 2,628. This record has been standing for a very long time and some thought of it as unbreakable. Paired with these mass amounts of yards, Jeanty also has 19 touchdowns. Keep in mind that Jeanty has only played 6 games. This means that he is also on pace for 38 total touchdowns breaking the touchdown record for running backs as well.

Next, Travis Hunter is another guy who can’t be talked about enough. His main point of argument of why he should win the Heisman is that he plays both sides of the ball. This means he plays offense and defense. Not only does he play offense and defense, but he plays both of them extremely well. Hunter has 604 yards receiving and six touchdowns this year. Now normally people would look at that and see an above average receiver at best, but when you watch the film and see him making these spectacular contested catches over defenders heads, then you will see him as the player he truly is. This paired with the fact that he is also tied for the third best corner in the nation with a coverage ranking of 81.2 and two interceptions on the year proves why he is a solid contender for Heisman.

To wrap up, I do think that the race will be extremely close this year because the two players are very competitive and both want it very bad. However, due to Jeanty’s immense aura when carrying the ball, I have to think that he is the favorite to take home the trophy.

Which is better Athlete Lifting or Hypertrophy Weight Lifting

By: Ford Wilder

To start, there are many types of weightlifting which have different focuses.

The main two are athlete training and hypertrophy aka bodybuilding training. Hypertrophy training focuses on improving the physical appearance of one’s body, while athlete lifting focuses on improving a person’s physical abilities. I believe that athlete training is better and here is why.

First, many athletes don’t receive the correct guidance and lift in the best way possible. This is because they either did not listen to their school’s strength coach on whats best, or they don’t realize they should be training for athletic abilities and not just their appearance. I fell victim to this before I understood the importance of training like an athlete. I did athletic lifts my school strength coach had us do and I listened to him. But outside of school lifts, I found myself at the local gym lifting purely for aesthetics(appearance). I firmly believe in going the athlete lifting route because I saw the changes in my athletic performance once I started to train like athletes are meant to. Not only that but my physical appearance even got a lot better. I would more than likely be more filled out if I kept training for appearance, but I would not have gotten any more athletic.

Next off, I also think that training to become more athletic is more enjoyable than bodybuilding. I can do many more dynamic movements that include plyometrics, med ball slams, sprints, etc. By doing this my body is a lot more flexible and my range of motion and explosiveness continue to increase unlike those who train for aesthetics. Hypertrophy weightlifting consists of many isolated movements where a person is sitting down in almost every exercise. This is because it allows for a greater stretch and isolation of the muscle which will allow for muscle fibers to more efficiently tear and grow back bigger. But by doing this I noticed I was a lot stiffer, and my athletic movements were about as fluids. This is why athletes should stick to training for abilities and not appearance. Also, many people believe you do not build muscle unless you lift for hypertrophy. This is completely false. Athlete training consists of many exercises to build muscle and become more explosive at the same time. I saw the results myself being on an athlete-based training program. I built plenty of muscle all the while becoming more athletic.

Ultimately, if you are an athlete I do not think it is even a question of whether a person should hypertrophy or athlete train. The benefits of athlete lifting far outweigh those of hypertrophy training. I believe lifting in the correct style can make or break an athlete’s performance.

Ranking CELSIUS Sparkling Variety Pack (Orange, Wild Berry, Kiwi Guava)

By: Anna Kate Coker

3. Wild Berry

Either I just completely overused this flavor and got sick of it, but it just starts to taste like febreeze in a drink. I think the drink is just not good and is too sweet, but in a fake way. I am not a fan of this celsius and I will never choose this one. If I walk into a CVS, Walgreens, any gas station, and this is the only flavor I would just rather not get one at all. I despise this flavor and it is gross.

2. Kiwi Guava

This is an okay flavor, it is not that bad, but it is not a top choice. Honestly, This flavor pack just isn’t very good in general, so I am giving it some mercy. I only really drink this celsius if it is gifted to me, I will never spend my own money on it. The kiwi almost gives a banana flavor, which is a little weird backed up with guava. I have never actually had guava though, so I am blindly tasting this drink.

3. Orange

This celsius gets the top ranking because this pack is bad, but also, this one is actually good. This flavor is found in many places and is very generic. If someone offers to buy me a celsius and asks what flavor, I usually do go with this option just because I can depend on it being stocked in places, but I can never get sick of it. It is similar to a Fanta but the orange does not taste too fake. Unlike Body Armor, it does not taste too much like healthy orange juice or like a thicker concentrate. It is a very delicious drink and I can also rely on it quenching my thirst.

Top 5 Fruits

By: Addie Griffin

Everyone knows fruits are one of the most refreshing foods you can eat. Whether it’s by themselves, in a smoothie, or maybe covered in chocolate, they always leave you with an amazing taste in your mouth. Today I will be ranking the top five best fruits.

5. Starting off at number five, we have bananas. Bananas have a sweet taste and almost creamy texture that makes it different from any other fruit. Not only are they delicious, but they are also rich in potassium and good for you.

4. Now at number four are peaches. Peaches are one of the most underrated fruits in my opinion. While they are usually overlooked, in a desert such as a peach cobbler they are simply unbeatable. This is exactly the reason I believe they deserve a spot on this list.

3. Starting off our top 3, we have grapes. More specifically, green grapes deserve to be in the top 3 slot. These are one of the best snacks to have especially in the heat of summer. They have an amazing flavor and a crunch like no other.

2. For the second best fruit, we have strawberries. Strawberries have a very unique texture and flavor which I feel is the reason it deserves to be on this list. They are also much more delicious when covered in chocolate, preferably dark chocolate. They are a crowd favorite loved by all which is why it is placed at number two.

1.Now for the number one spot is pineapple. Pineapple is by far the best fruit to exist. It is packed with a tangy, yet also sweet flavor that is unlike any other. With every bite comes a powerful punch that makes your lips pucker in the best way possible. It is the juiciest fruit you could imagine and always leaves you wanting more.

The Magic of a Subway Series in the World Series

By: Benson Elmore

Imagine the excitement: two New York teams, the Yankees and the Mets, battling it out in the World Series. A Subway Series, where the stakes are as high as the Empire State Building and the rivalry is unmatched, would not only captivate the city but the entire baseball world.

The Rivalry

The history between the Yankees and the Mets is great. With the Yankees boasting a record 27 World Series championships and the Mets holding their own with two titles, the two teams are amazing groups that used to be very common common competitors in the playoffs. A World Series matchup would reignite this rivalry, drawing fans from both sides crazy, making New York become an amazing and competitive location for many years to come. The stakes would be higher than ever, as bragging rights for New York supremacy would be in the winners hand.

The Atmosphere

Picture the atmosphere in the city: fans wearing their team colors, gathering at bars and apartments, united in their love for baseball, yet split by their favorite hometown team. The subway cars would be filled with fans, as chants and cheers echo through the tunnels. Game days would transform the city into a vibrant sea of pinstripes and orange-and-blue, turning every street corner into a great representation of the sport.

The Impact on Baseball

A Subway Series wouldn’t just be a local spectacle; it would have a significant impact on the sport as a whole. The ratings would soar, drawing in casual viewers and lighting the flame of interest back into baseball. The exposure would highlight the talent in both organizations, shining a light on the players and strategies that define the game today.

Conclusion

A Subway Series in the World Series would be a dream come true for baseball fans and a thrilling chapter in New York’s sports history. It would combine intense competition, juicy history, and an electrifying atmosphere, making it one of the most memorable moments in the game. As we dream of the day this rivalry takes center stage, one thing is clear: the magic of a Subway Series would be unmatched.

2024-2025 NBA Season Opener Preview

By: Know Buxton

The 2024-2025 NBA season tips off on October 22 with the defending champions Boston Celtics facing the New York Knicks. That game will be followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. I really like these matchups for opening night because all four of these teams should be pretty competitive this season. In my opinion, the Boston Celtics look like the favorites to win the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. They definitely have all of the pieces they need in order to go back to back. They have two stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they have two of the best defending guards in the league in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, and they also have one of the best shooting and defending big men in the league in Kristaps Porzingis. They have a solid bench with players like Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, and Lonnie Walker IV, but it could be better. To me, their biggest threat to going back to back is their health. If one player in their starting five gets injured for an extended period of time, things could go downhill. Luckily for the Celtics, these players don’t have bad injury histories except for Kristaps Porzingis so this shouldn’t be much of a concern. For the Knicks on the other hand, they also have a good chance to make a championship push. I really like the additions they made with Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Their biggest concern is the depth which they lost by trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. They also lost Isiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency this summer which doesn’t help. As for the opening night game between the two, I think the Celtics will win a close game and this could potentially be a playoff matchup we see later in the season.

The Lakers are a team to watch this season too. They are led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis , two of the best players in the NBA; but their biggest problem, as always, is the supporting cast for their two superstars. They signed JJ Reddick as a first time head coach and he seems to be very close with LeBron James. This is a make or break season for the Lakers in my opinion because LeBron’s career is coming to an end and Anthony Davis might not want to stay for much longer if there is no LeBron James. For the Timberwolves, I am very high on their young superstar Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves finished as a top team last season and made a deep playoff run before losing to the Mavericks. They traded their star that went alongside Edwards in Karl-Anthony Towns, but I like the additions of Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo. The biggest question for Minnesota is if their good season last season was a fluke or not. I think they have all the pieces in place for another successful season, but it largely depends on how the Towns trade turns out for them. In the Timberwolves vs Lakers game, I think the Timberwolves will win in a close one but it definitely could go the other way. This game comes down to which team plays better together because both teams made moves this off-season and have some new additions.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

By: Lottie Bynum

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I found this recipe on TikTok listed as “The Best Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Of All Time” and this is my version and experience of making them!

The ingredients needed are:

¾ cup of butter
1 cup of light brown sugar
¼ cup of white sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 whole egg
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 ¾ cups of all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips

The way I bake these cookies differs slightly from the original recipe.

Steps

To brown butter you can either brown it in a pot, double boiler, or put it in the microwave; I put mine in the microwave for 1-3 minutes depending on how long it takes it to brown. If you do it in the microwave like I do then make sure to check it every 15 seconds or so after the first minute to avoid it burning(I’ve burned the butter before!).
After that, add your brown and white sugars to the browned butter and mix. I usually do this while the butter is being browned in the microwave. I usually don’t bother measuring the exact amount because sometimes there’s a little extra sugar on the top of the cup that I don’t dust off for added sweetness!
Then, add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla! Yes it is important to add just the yolk because the cookies end up kind of lumpy if you just add an entire other egg. Yes the amount of vanilla is important too if you add more than you should of that then it’s fine everyone loves baking with vanilla.
After that add your flour, baking soda and salt and mix. Salt is the one ingredient I never measure because it’s honestly what you feel deep in your baking soul to add. I usually add quite a bit because it enhances the sweet flavor in my opinion. I use sea salt in the larger chunkier flakes for the vibes but also because it tastes better that way in my opinion.
Here is where my version of the recipe differs. My dough is still warm at this point so I usually put it in the fridge to cool for around 15 minutes before mixing in the chocolate chips, however this step is always being changed for me. Last time I added in a handful(or a few, measure with your sweet tooth!) and mixed them in while the dough is still warm and let them melt to add chocolate streaks in the dough and then refrigerated them and added the other chocolate chips afterwards! Another thought is melting some in the microwave and mixing in pre-melted chocolate chips into the dough and seeing if the taste differs any from the ones melted in the dough. Also when adding chocolate chips or whatever chocolate you add try a few different types of chocolate chips at the same time! I usually add semi-sweet and dark!
After mixing the chocolate chips, put them back in the fridge so that they can firm up a bit and deepen in flavor. In the original recipe you put the dough in for 30 minutes but the way I do it I put them in for another 15 or if I have the time 30 like the recipe said. I do this because they already went in the fridge to cool before adding the chocolate chips, but do whatever you would like in this step! Also note to self turn on the oven to 350 degrees during this to give it time to heat up instead of waiting for a while when you take your cookies out of the fridge.
After the fridge, roll the dough into balls whatever shape or size you think is right(the original recipe said 2 oz balls but I never measure!). Place the balls on a baking sheet in a pan and place them in the oven at 350 degrees and wait for around 18 minutes depending on how crispy you want them and how large or small the cookies are.
Now you have cookies! This recipe usually makes around 24 cookies but you can stretch them depending on how small you roll them out to be.

Ranking Older Kid’s Movies

By: Lucy Buxton

Top Five Best “Older” Children’s Movies

Instead of ranking my “top songs”, I will be rating my top five best “older” children’s movies. Again, In no specific order, along with some fun facts about each film.

On June twenty-second of nineteen fifty-five, Disney released an absolute masterpiece, “Lady and the Tramp”. The main characters are Lady, a “high class’ Cocker Spaniel and Jock, a rough Scottish Terrier. The main action in this movie is when Lady’s owner has a baby and the attention quickly shifts from Lady to the new baby. Lady ends up lost on the street and finds Jock and they learn from each other’s different perspectives. I’m not quite sure why I’m so drawn to this film. It is light hearted but also has a deeper meaning, as most animated children’s movies do. I happen to also have a Cocker Spaniel so maybe that is why I’m a little biased. One fun fact about this animation is that Lady was actually a real dog owned by a Disney writer, Joe Grant.

About Thirty years after “Lady and the Tramp”, another magical film was released, “Fox and the Hound”. This is a movie that a lot of people know pretty well. The movie starts off when Tod (The Fox) mother is killed. He is taken in by Widow Tweed, who has a neighbor that owns a hound dog around the same as Tod, Copper. The story honestly had a pretty sad ending but I found it highly entertaining as a kid. A fun fact about “Fox and the Hound” that you probably don’t know is, The bear’s snarl is the same snarl used for Shere Khan in the “Jungle Book”.

Only about six years after “Lady and the Tramp”, another movie that really made viewers fall in love with dogs was, “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”. It is about a litter of Dalmations that are being abducted by the minions of Cruella De Vil. The owners and parents of the puppies are in a hurry to find the precious puppies before she makes them into some sort of fashion statement. I love this film because it is based in Paris so it seems magical and romantic but the story is actually the complete opposite. One fun fact about this film is, There are more than six million spots on this movie.

An all time favorite but sometimes forgotten film, Dumbo. This movie is about an elephant with huge ears. The moral of this story is very important for children to learn and this is we should not discourage anyone just because of the ways he or she looks on the outside. A fun fact about this movie is Dumbo originally had a sidekick which was a mouse.

Last but certainly not least, “Aristocats”. This film was released in nineteen seventeen and was created by Walt Disney. This movie, In my opinion, is very similar to “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”. Both movies are set in Paris, France and Both female characters Perdita, the Dalmation and Dutchess, the cat are both owned by very prim and proper people. Both “high class” pets, along with their owners end up falling in love with the “more rough around the edges” owners and their pets. A fun fact about “Aristocats” is it is inspired by the true story of a Parisian family of cats, who inherited a fabulous fortune.

Ranking Fast Food Resturants

By: Olivia Cogswell

When looking for a quick and easy meal, many people drive to their local favorite fast food restaurant. In the US alone, there are over 200,000 restaurants and over 50,000 different fast food chains for people to pick from. Here are the top five best fast food restaurants:

Fifth, Whataburger. In this restaurant you can get cheeseburgers, french fries, or chicken. Many people compare the burgers from Watarburgers to Whoppers from Burger King. However, these burgers tend to be a much more appropriate size topped with more fresh ingredients. They provide other selections like chicken nuggets and french fries, and tend to be less expensive than other fast food restaurants. The downside of this chain is that they do not provide very many healthy options and are not at wide variety in states.

Fourth, Sonic. Sonic provides many options on their menu from burgers to pretzels, and even mozzarella sticks. They also have a wide variety of drink selections and ice creams. They have slushies, milkshakes, sundaes, and all kinds of fountain sodas. However Sonic tends to be on the pricier side, and their sides tend to be the better part of their menu while the main courses, like their burgers, are not very good. They are dried and topped with not so fresh toppings.

Third, Taco Bell. This restaurant provides a wide variety of food selections from tacos, burritos, nachos, and even fries. They have frozen drinks and fountain drinks, and even have desserts. However Taco Bell is very unhealthy, and does not provide any healthy options. The service also tends to be on the slower side.

Second, Raising Canes. Canes are known for their famous sauce, which makes their meals. Many people go to Canes just for their sauce. They have chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, and are served with fries and Texas toast. Their fries are crinkled and are always crispy and their Texas toast is always made just right. They also are pretty cheap for the portion sizes. Although their menu selections are good, they do not provide many other varieties, and tend to be more on the unhealthy side.

First, Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A has so many options to choose from. They have chicken nuggets, tenders, and sandwiches. The sandwiches can come in many varieties like: original, spicy, deluxe, and even piminto. They have a variety of sides to choose from, and even have some healthy options like salads, soups, and fruit. While also having a wide variety of sauce options for customers to choose from. They even provide a full breakfast menu, with their well known chicken minis. CFA has some of the best services with the most welcoming employers. That is why Chick-Fil-A is the superior fast food restaurant compared to the other fast food chains.